A shocking incident in Colorado has sparked a lot of attention after a man allegedly attacked a television news reporter, accusing him of not being a U.S. citizen. The altercation reportedly involved a disturbing comment: “This is Trump’s America now.”
The accused, 39-year-old Patrick Thomas Egan, was arrested on December 18 in Grand Junction, Colorado. According to police, Egan, who was driving a taxi at the time, followed reporter Ja’Ronn Alex for about 40 miles from Delta to Grand Junction. Alex, who works as a reporter, believes he was targeted because of his Pacific Islander heritage.
The encounter escalated when both men arrived at a stoplight in Grand Junction. Egan allegedly pulled up beside Alex and questioned him, saying something along the lines of, “Are you even a U.S. citizen? This is Trump’s America now! I’m a Marine and I took an oath to protect this country from people like you!”
Feeling unsafe, Alex drove straight back to his workplace in Grand Junction. However, Egan didn’t stop there. According to the arrest affidavit, Egan chased Alex as he ran toward the door of the news station. Egan demanded to see Alex’s identification, tackled him, and reportedly put him in a headlock, choking him to the point where Alex seemed to be struggling to breathe. Witnesses, including Alex’s coworkers who rushed to help, later told police about the alarming attack, which was partially recorded on surveillance cameras.
Alex, originally from Detroit, had been driving a news station vehicle during the incident.
Egan was arrested and faces potential charges, including bias-motivated crimes, second-degree assault, and harassment. He is scheduled to appear in court on Thursday to find out if prosecutors will move forward with formal charges.
Egan’s attorney, Ruth Swift, was unavailable for comment when contacted by phone.
This incident has left many shocked, raising concerns about bias-motivated violence and how individuals are treated based on their background. The case continues to unfold as the investigation proceeds.
